Position Papers

Position Paper

Federal law exempts so-called faith-healing from the minimum federal definition of medical neglect under CAPTA, the Child Abuse and Prevention Treatment Act. Thus authorized by federal law, approximately thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia allow for some form of exemption in state statutes. In addition to elimination of the exemption at both the federal and state level, the Secular Coalition for America advocates for federal and state statutes that would specifically impose civil liabilities on “faith-healing” treatment providers.  Read more »

When Lillie Laster Jones’s secular child care center was shut down by the state of Florida due to repeated violations of health and safety regulations, Jones knew just what to do: set up a religious child care center that the state would not have oversight over. In less than one week of being forced to shut down her secular child care center where a toddler was found wandering a deserted playground in only a diaper, Jones was able to open up her new center.  Read more »

In 2008, the Alliance Defense Fund’s “Pulpit Initiative” encouraged pastors to endorse political candidates in the upcoming elections with the goal of overturning the ban on these activities in the courts.  ADF want to establish a “pastor’s right to speak freely from his pulpit without fearing censorship or punishment by the government.”  Read more »

In 2007, Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, initiated an investigation of six televangelists asking them to disclose their organization’s compensation plans, spending practices, assets and business arrangements.  The investigation was prompted by complaints that these ministers live lavish lifestyles with multi-million dollar homes and private jets.  In 2009 Grassley is still waiting from responses from the majority of the televangelists and is considering issuing subpoenas to obtain this information.  Read more »